Step #1:

Clean your fireplace. I get into more detail on THIS blog, but here's the gist of it - get this cleaner at your local hardware store with a wire brush & scrub until you think you have carpal tunnel:

Step #2

Get a small cup of water, a brush, a rag and the paint you're going to be using to white-wash. I used DecoArt's Chalky Finish Paint in "Everlasting" which is a bright white. Decide how much of the brick you want to show through by dipping your brush lightly in the paint, heavily in the water, then spread it over the brick. The more water on your brush, the more the paint will spread and the more brick color you will see through the paint. If you put on too much, simply splash a little water on the brick and dab it up with your rag. I didn't want mine to be fully white, so I used a lot of water. Wait for it to dry before moving on to step 3.

Step #3

Now that your brick is whitewashed and very beautiful, you're going to notice just how yucky the inside of the fireplace looks. This is easily fixed with just a fresh coat of paint! Downside is - you have to use a special paint that is heat resistant and only comes in black. You can get this at Home Depot, I used the Rustoleum brand. Do a fresh coat of black over the inside. I have to warn you: It's oil based and smells like burning licorice. It's yucky, which is why you'll notice in the photo below that I have an air purifier very close by. I'd recommend that or a fan if you have one, keep fresh air flowing near you or you'll get a little loopy. Also be sure to have nail polish remover or a paint thinner handy in case you spaz and it splashes somewhere you don't want it to!

Now that you've cleaned it, white-washed it & given a fresh coat of heat resistant paint to the inside - you have what looks like a brand new fireplace!

*Reminder that 10% of all proceeds made through purchases on my site from now until November 30th - will go straight to the Alzheimer's Foundation in honor of National Alzheimer's Awareness Month. If there's a piece you've been eyeing, consider buying it before the end of the month and be simultaneously giving to a great organization! More info here & here.

We are planning on repainting our our fireplace. The colors are very similar to the one in your make over. We are interested in trying the caulky paint method but don't like the white wash look. Have you ever tried or seen one done with a more solid color finish or two tone look? We are wondering if we painted it with black first and then second coated with grey using the pratrolium jelly method to distress if it would work or how it might look? If you can give us any feedback from your experience we would really appreciate it. Thank you.

Reply

Mandy

2/29/2016 10:48:46 am

Hi Karen! Painting your fireplace will be fun! I have to be honest, I don't know much about the petroleum jelly method, however I have heard of using petroleum jelly as a fire starter, so I would be weary of using that on a fireplace. A gray and black painted fireplace does sound beautiful though! What I would recommend is getting a brick or two from your local hardware store and experimenting on them before heading to your fireplace. That way you can judge measurements on how much of each color you want showing, so you know exactly what you have to do on the real thing! I'd love to see before & afters when you complete your project! Feel free to shoot me an email at artist@mandyfitzgerald.com if you have any other questions! :)

Categories

The contents on this site are not to be used without written consent from Mandy Fitzgerald. Any use of Fitzgerald's images of her artwork, artist statement, blog entries, etc without permission is illegal. If you have any questions regarding these terms, call 804-386-8493 or email at artist@mandyfitzgerald.com.